Tammy Roberts, MS, RD, LD, Nutrition and Health Education Specialist, Bates County, University of Missouri Extension
It is important to be aware of cholesterol numbers because high cholesterol is one of the major controllable risk factors for coronary heart disease, heart attack and stroke. There’s no better time than right now to know your numbers — September is Cholesterol Awareness Month.
When you get the results of your cholesterol blood test you should know your total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. The desirable total cholesterol level is 200 mg/dL or below.
Low density lipoprotein or LDL is considered a good gauge for risk of heart attack and stroke. It is the LDL, along with other substances, that builds up on artery walls, forming a thick plaque that narrows arteries and makes them less flexible. When a clot forms and blocks an artery, a heart attack or stroke can be the result. It is optimal for LDL to be below 100 mg/dL.
High density lipoprotein or HDL is referred to as the good cholesterol. High levels of HDL can provide some protection against heart attack and stroke. HDL helps keep the LDL from building up on artery walls. For men, the average HDL reading is 40 to 50 mg/dL. In women, it is 50 to 60 mg/dL. Less than 40 for men and 50 for women puts you at a higher risk for heart disease. Above 60 mg/dL provides protection against heart disease.
There are some things that impact cholesterol that you have no control over; however, there are other things you can control. To learn about these risk factors and when to have your cholesterol tested, check out the full version of this article at http://missourifamilies.org/features/nutritionarticles/nut222.htm
Reblooming Christmas and Thanksgiving Cacti Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera
bridgesii) and Thanksgiving Cactus (Schlumbergera truncate) are popular
flowering holiday plants. Both are epiphytes native to the jungles of South
America. Epiphytic plants grow on other plants and use them for support but
not for nutrients. Though these cacti are different species, they will
hybridize and produce varying stem shapes. Christmas cactus normally has
smooth stem segments.
Thanksgiving Cactus has hook-like appendages on each segment.
Flowering will not occur unless induced by temperature and light treatment.
If the temperature is held at 50 to 55 degrees F, flowering will occur
regardless of day length. But flowering usually is not uniform. Temperatures
below 50 degrees F prevent flowering. Nights greater than 12 hours long and
temperatures between 59 and 69 degrees also can generate flowers.
Twenty-five consecutive long nights is enough for flower initiation. Nights
will naturally become greater than 12 hours close to the fall equinox, which
is on September 23 this year. A plant receiving natural sunlight but no
artificial light during night hours, will have this 25-day requirement met
about October 20. It takes an additional nine to 10 weeks for flowers to
complete development and bloom.
Both of these cacti like bright indirect light. Too much sun may cause
leaves to turn yellow. Common household temperatures are fine. Keep soil
constantly moist but not waterlogged. These plants seem to flower best if
kept a little pot bound. If you need to repot, try waiting until spring.
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Mini-grants are now available to support community service projects as identified by community or college-based leadership development programs.
The Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development and the Huck Boyd Foundation, with support from the Kansas Health Foundation, are offering up to 10 mini-grants worth $450 each. The mini-grants are to be used to implement a project of community or local need as identified through an educational leadership development program.
“These funds can be used to help a local leadership class or a leadership student carry out a community service project to meet local needs,” said Clare Gustin, chair of the Huck Boyd Institute board of directors. “We encourage community- or college-based leadership development programs to apply.”
More information, including examples of successful grants from previous years, can be found at www.kansasleadershipfund.org.
Proposals should be submitted electronically (in pdf or Word format) to [email protected] no later than Oct.15, 2014. Please put “Proposal” in the subject line.
All proposals must be received by Wednesday, Oct.15, 2014 to be considered. Winning proposals will be selected through an independent third-party review. Questions can be emailed to the Huck Boyd Institute at [email protected].
The Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development is a public/private partnership between K-State Research and Extension and the Huck Boyd Foundation. The foundation office is at the Huck Boyd Community Center in Phillipsburg, Kansas. The institute office is at Kansas State University in Manhattan.
Sweet potatoes should be harvested no later than the first fall freeze
because cold temperatures can damage the sensitive roots. However, you may
want to harvest earlier if you prefer a smaller sweet potato. Test dig a
hill to see if they are the size you want.
Sweet potatoes should be cured after being dug. The digging process often
damages the tender skin, and curing helps these small wounds heal.
Place the roots in a warm, humid location for 5 to 10 days immediately after
digging. A location with a temperature around 85 to 90 degrees is ideal. A
space heater can be used to heat a small room or other area.
Raise the humidity by placing moist towels in the room. The curing process
not only heals wounds but also helps convert starches to sugars.
This process improves the texture and flavor of the roots.
Sweet potatoes should be stored above 55 degrees. Storage at temperatures
below that injures the roots, shortens storage life and gives them an off
flavor.
I know what you are thinking.no way, wrong season. But you’d be mistaken.
Now is the time to start thinking about your psychological need for color
when winter seems like it will never end. You know the feeling, it’s dreary
and cold outside and you just can’t wait for some green. As soon as you see
those first little leaves poking out of the ground, you can’t help but get
full of anticipation for the change of seasons. Every year you probably
think, I wish I had thought ahead to plant some bulbs last fall so I’d have
some of this color in my yard.
Right? Well, now is the time to do some thinking, planning, buying and
planting. Not just for the best selection and healthiest bulbs, but for your
mental and spiritual well being in six months! [This is a good selling point
for your spouse.or just me enabling your plant habit.] First of all, what
can you plant now (September to November-before the ground freezes) that
will emerge in the spring? From first appearance to last appearance we have
crocus, grape hyacinth (Muscari), daffodil, hyacinth and tulip. Before we
get carried away with the garden possibilities, it’s important to know a few
things about choosing, planting and caring for bulbs. For the best show
you’ll want to purchase the largest bulbs you can find that are appropriate
for that variety.
Healthy bulbs will be firm, have a thin, papery covering on the outside, be
free of bruises, mechanical damage and/or signs of mold or mildew.
Avoid bulbs with green tips peeking out since these plants are coming out of
dormancy too early. Follow the directions on the bulb package for planting
depth. They may benefit from some fertilizer and, like other plants, will
need a little water in the winter.
Technically a “corm” rather than a “bulb,” crocus are the first to bloom in
the spring and are sold alongside other spring-flowering bulbs in stores.
They are short little plants that range in color from dark blue, purple,
white, cream, yellow and orange. Grape hyacinths are hot on the tails of
crocus and complement them nicely with their bottle-brush heads in blues and
whites. Daffodils are next and come in many colors and petal types, most
often yellow and single, but there are plenty of really neat cultivars. They
are great for naturalizing (spread randomly around the garden and let them
grow at their own pace) and deer avoid them.
Hyacinth and tulip are among the last to put on a big show of early spring
color. As you know, the common oriental hyacinth is very fragrant. If you
aren’t able to plant any in the fall, there are always some in full bloom
available for impulse purchase near checkout lanes at the grocery store.
Indulge yourself, my friend.
Tulips come in many, many sizes and colors. I freely admit to being
overwhelmed by choice when it comes to tulips, but you can’t really go wrong
with them in the landscape. Just remember that they look amazing when massed
together for big swaths of color. Tulips require a long chilling period so
get them in the ground as soon as possible. They may also require more
frequent dividing in order to maintain large blooms in subsequent years. Or,
you can always replant with fun, new selections.
If you just don’t get around to planting any bulbs this year, never fear.
You can always purchase some in the spring for container gardens or forcing
indoors (hello January project). With a little planning ahead and working in
your yard (or containers) while it’s beautiful out this coming season, you
can enjoy a great show next spring. You’ll be so grateful that you got some
bulbs planted this fall-get to it!
